In the medium term, the producing and organising festival format for "contemporary folk theatre" should enable productions from the local independent scene, as well as international projects and collaborations: "In the first edition, we are planning to host the festival with three in-house productions and two revivals," says Tritscher. This year, the focus will be on local author Peter Blaikner and the origins of European comedy.
The premiere of the comedy play "Betrogene Betrüger" will take place on Leogang village square - "an ideal place for such a play" - on 3 August. Five farces by anonymous authors from the 15th century have been newly translated, rewritten and modernised without changing their original mood. "In this collection of French farces, the headmaster of a travelling troupe plays a small role, played by a mediocre actor - me," says the long-standing actor and director, not taking himself too seriously. He also talks enthusiastically about the set, which was designed by Norbert Gruber: "Norbert had the idea of giving us two-dimensional costumes - similar to the paper dress-up dolls from our childhood. This results in a very special but wonderfully fitting look for this play."
Also on the village square in Leogang, "Der Wiederholungstäter" has his stage on 14 August. Peter Blaikner presents a linguistically and musically multi-layered programme in a successful combination of his original songs, cheeky and witty folk songs and his legendary translations of chansons by Frenchmen Georges Brassens and François Villon. "This is a side of Peter Blaikner that he doesn't often show," says Reinhold Tritscher, showering the versatile entertainer with roses.
A few days later, on 18 August, "Elva" lands in the Leogang parish hall. Because - as everyone has always suspected - Elvis is alive and he has a daughter, Elva. She translates the King's lyrics into Viennese, rearranges them and presents the songs in proper style in a glittery outfit.
In addition to the continuation and expansion of the "innergebirg" theatre series, the revival of the historic Heckentheater, which has been very well received by audiences, will continue in the summer and the ecce theatre will be a guest at another rather unusual theatre venue, the Badestrand in Hof, where the comedy "Betrogene Betrüger" will also be performed. "We are and will remain an independent theatre without our own venue. We also don't want our own theatre venue, but are continuing our concept of finding a suitable location for each play."
"Schlafstörungen", a production by the Laube VOLXtheaterwerkstatt, will open the autumn season at ARGEkultur. "After ten performances, we will then move this play to Kunsthaus Nexus and with 'Schlafstörungen' we also want to kick off the VOLXtheaterwerkstatt in Pinzgau."
For the Christmas season, the ecce theatre is planning "The Wizard of Oz". "We are continuing our long-standing collaboration with the OVAL in the Europark," says Tritscher.
